Pumping and foaming device

Abstract

Pumping and foaming device ( 100 ) comprising a container compartment ( 20 ) where a foamable fluid ( 1 ) is stored, an air entry ( 13 ) through which air is provided into the device ( 100 ) and a processing compartment ( 10 ) where fluid is pumped and foamed with air, the processing compartment ( 10 ) comprising at least one movable part and a static part, movable with respect to each other; said parts being arranged in such a way that their relative movement pumps fluid by suction from the container compartment ( 20 ) respectively into the processing compartment ( 10 ), and also drives the mixture of air and fluid through a thin gap providing a certain level of shear stress which allows this mixture to foam.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A pumping and foaming system comprising:
 a pumping and foaming device comprising a container compartment where a foamable fluid is stored, an air entry through which air is provided into the pumping and foaming device, and a processing compartment where the foamable fluid is pumped and foamed with the air, the processing compartment comprising at least one movable part and a static part movable with respect to each other, and the at least one movable part and the static part arranged in such a way that their relative movement pumps the foamable fluid by suction from the container compartment into the processing compartment and also drives a mixture of air and fluid through a gap providing a certain level of shear stress which allows the mixture to form a foam; and a machine, the pumping and foaming device being connectable to the machine and the machine comprising a driver for driving the at least one movable part, 
 the at least one movable part comprises a pumping gear and a disc, and the static part comprises an outside chamber, the disc being rotatable with respect to the outside chamber, the pumping gear comprising a rotatable driver gear and a rotatable driven gear whose relative rotation creates a suction area, where the air and the foamable fluid are pumped by suction and are pre-mixed to form the mixture, and a pushing area, where the mixture of the air and the foamable fluid is driven in the gap between the disc and the outside chamber under the certain level of shear stress which allows the mixture to be foamed. 
 
     
     
       2. The pumping and foaming device according to  claim 1 , wherein the gap is formed between the at least one moveable part and the static part of the processing compartment, the at least one moveable part is arranged to rotate relative to the static part, and the at least one moveable part and the static part are arranged in a configuration selected from the group consisting of substantially parallel to each other and substantially concentrically to each other. 
     
     
       3. The pumping and foaming device according to  claim 1 , wherein the container compartment and the processing compartment are connected by single-use connection to make the pumping and foaming device disposable. 
     
     
       4. The pumping and foaming device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing compartment is configured as a lid, and the container compartment is configured as a bottle or pouch. 
     
     
       5. The pumping and foaming device according to  claim 1 , comprising an additive compartment releasably attached to the pumping and foaming device providing an additive simultaneously with the foam. 
     
     
       6. The pumping and foaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the machine comprises a heating element which heats the foam once formed, after the foam exits the pumping and foaming device. 
     
     
       7. The pumping and foaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the machine comprises a controller which adjusts a size of the air entry and a speed of the at least movable part with respect to the static part. 
     
     
       8. The pumping and foaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the gap is formed between the at least one moveable part and the static part of the processing compartment, the at least one moveable part is arranged to rotate relative to the static part, the at least one moveable part and the static part are arranged in a configuration selected from the group consisting of substantially parallel to each other and substantially concentrically to each other, and the at least one moveable part and the static part are arranged so that their relative movement pumps the air by suction and mixes the air with the foamable fluid in the processing compartment. 
     
     
       9. A pumping and foaming device comprising: a container compartment where a foamable fluid is stored, an air entry through which air is provided into the pumping and foaming device, and a processing compartment where the foamable fluid is pumped and foamed with the air, the processing compartment comprising at least one movable part and a static part movable with respect to each other, and the at least one movable part and the static part arranged such that their relative movement pumps the foamable fluid by suction from the container compartment into the processing compartment and also drives a mixture of the air and the foamable fluid through a gap providing a certain level of shear stress which allows the mixture to form a foam,
 the gap is formed between the at least one moveable part and the static part of the processing compartment, the at least one moveable part is arranged to rotate relative to the static part, the at least one moveable part and the static part are arranged substantially parallel and/or concentrically to each other, and the gap has a width in a range of from 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm. 
 
     
     
       10. A pumping and foaming device comprising: a container compartment where a foamable fluid is stored, an air entry through which air is provided into the pumping and foaming device, and a processing compartment where the foamable fluid is pumped and foamed with the air, the processing compartment comprising at least one movable part and a static part movable with respect to each other, and the at least one movable part and the static part arranged such that their relative movement pumps the foamable fluid by suction from the container compartment into the processing compartment and also drives a mixture of the air and the foamable fluid through a gap providing a certain level of shear stress which allows the mixture to form a foam,
 the gap is formed between the at least one moveable part and the static part of the processing compartment, the at least one moveable part is arranged to rotate relative to the static part, the at least one moveable part and the static part are arranged substantially parallel and/or concentrically to each other, and the at least one moveable part and the static part are arranged so that their relative movement pumps the air by suction and mixes the air with the foamable fluid in the processing compartment. 
 
     
     
       11. The pumping and foaming device according to  claim 10 , wherein an amount of the air entering the pumping and foaming device is adjustable by modifying a size of the air entry and/or by adjusting a speed of the at least one movable part with respect to the static part. 
     
     
       12. The pumping and foaming device according to  claim 11 , comprising a readable code carrying data indicative of the size of the air entry and/or the speed of the at least one moveable part with respect to the static part. 
     
     
       13. A pumping and foaming device comprising: a container compartment where a foamable fluid is stored, an air entry through which air is provided into the pumping and foaming device, and a processing compartment where the foamable fluid is pumped and foamed with the air, the processing compartment comprising at least one movable part and a static part movable with respect to each other, and the at least one movable part and the static part arranged such that their relative movement pumps the foamable fluid by suction from the container compartment into the processing compartment and also drives a mixture of the air and the foamable fluid through a gap providing a certain level of shear stress which allows the mixture to form a foam,
 the at least one movable part comprises a pumping gear and a disc, and the static part comprises an outside chamber, the disc being rotatable with respect to the outside chamber, the pumping gear comprising a rotatable driver gear and a rotatable driven gear whose relative rotation creates a suction area, where the air and the foamable fluid are pumped by suction and are pre-mixed to form the mixture, and a pushing area, where the mixture of the air and the foamable fluid is driven in the gap between the disc and the outside chamber under the certain level of shear stress which allows the mixture to be foamed. 
 
     
     
       14. A pumping and foaming device comprising: a container compartment where a foamable fluid is stored, an air entry through which air is provided into the pumping and foaming device, and a processing compartment where the foamable fluid is pumped and foamed with the air, the processing compartment comprising at least one movable part and a static part movable with respect to each other, and the at least one movable part and the static part arranged such that their relative movement pumps the foamable fluid by suction from the container compartment into the processing compartment and also drives a mixture of the air and the foamable fluid through a gap providing a certain level of shear stress which allows the mixture to form a foam,
 the at least one movable part comprises a disc, and the static part comprises an outside chamber, the disc being rotatable with respect to the outside chamber, and the container compartment being configured as a capsule, such that a relative rotation of the disc with respect to the outside chamber pumps the air and the foamable fluid by suction using centrifugal forces and also foams the pumped air and foamable fluid by the shear stress. 
 
     
     
       15. The pumping and foaming device according to  claim 14 , wherein the air entry is arranged in an upper side of the container compartment, the air entry being linked to a primary air channel which allows the air to enter the container compartment to replace the foamable fluid which has been foamed, the air entry being also linked to a secondary air channel which provides the air to be mixed with the foamable fluid to produce the foam. 
     
     
       16. A pumping and foaming device comprising: a container compartment where a foamable fluid is stored, an air entry through which air is provided into the pumping and foaming device, and a processing compartment where the foamable fluid is pumped and foamed with the air, the processing compartment comprising at least one movable part and a static part movable with respect to each other, and the at least one movable part and the static part arranged such that their relative movement pumps the foamable fluid by suction from the container compartment into the processing compartment and also drives a mixture of the air and the foamable fluid through a gap providing a certain level of shear stress which allows the mixture to form a foam,
 the at least one movable part comprises a disc and a pumping and foaming gear, and the static part comprises an outside chamber, the disc being rotatable with respect to the outside chamber comprising an upper disc part and a lower disc part such that the pumping and foaming gear is arranged between the upper disc part and the lower disc part, the pumping and foaming gear comprising a rotatable driver gear and a rotatable driven gear whose relative rotation creates a suction area, where the air and the foamable fluid are pumped by suction and are pre-foamed to form a foamed mixture, and a pushing area, where the foamed mixture of the air and the foamable fluid is driven outside the pumping and foaming device. 
 
     
     
       17. The pumping and foaming device according to  claim 16 , wherein the upper disc part comprises at least one internal protruding area configuring an internal upper flow path providing at least one foaming area where the foamable fluid and the air are driven by the shear stress in order to be foamed. 
     
     
       18. The pumping and foaming device according to  claim 17 , wherein the pumping and foaming process carried out in the pumping and foaming device is adapted by acting on one or a combination of the following: positioning of a fluid inlet and a foam outlet; positioning of foaming areas; positioning of gates communicating protruding areas with the pumping and foaming gear.